Conservation Officer
Protect Idaho's wildlife, become a Conservation Officer!
Conservation Officers work and patrol in Idaho's mountains, high deserts, on rivers and lakes protecting Idaho's fish and wildlife. They utilize snow machines, horses, jet boats and 4x4 vehicles. This is not an 8 to 5 job, but rather one that is varied; one that often allows you to adjust your schedule so that you can make your child's soccer game. Conservation Officers work in country where most people only vacation. Yes, this is your office.
A Conservation Officer's primary duty is to gain compliance with fish and game laws and investigate wildlife crime. They work together with biologists to collect biological data for wildlife studies, conduct population studies and trap, tag and transplant wildlife. They work with landowners to minimize and resolve wildlife damage problems.
Conservation Officers also have hundreds of contacts yearly with the public including sportsmen, sportswomen, landowners, and other citizens where they inform and educate about wildlife. They must be able to relate to our customers, primarily anglers and hunters; therefore, they need to be a good listener and communicator.
Please note: Successful and competitive candidates will have a Bachelor's degree or higher in fish and/or wildlife management or a closely related field, from an accredited college or university OR one year of cumulative work experience in a natural resource field position and successful completion of a minimum of four upper-division courses (300 - 400 level) in fish and/or wildlife management or a closely related field from an accredited college or university.
Prior to being hired, all applicants must pass an extensive background check that will include credit, work, criminal history, reference checks, and a polygraph. Applicants must pass psychological, medical, and physical fitness examinations.
This is an entry level position. The starting salary range for this position is between $18.95 - $20.22. Conservation Officers who successfully complete their first-year probationary period (2,080 worked hours) which includes successful completion of the POST Academy and the Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) will be considered for upgrade to a Conservation Officer, Senior in their respective areas with starting salary being $23.96 per hour.
To learn more about becoming an Idaho Conservation Officer and the Department, please review the following:
- Become a Conservation Officer
- Idaho's Conservation Officers (video)
- We are Idaho Fish & Game (video)
Work Location:
- Applicants for Conservation Officer positions must be willing to work anywhere in Idaho. Assignments are dependent on department staffing needs. Patrol area transfer requests are typically not considered for two years from time of hire.
Responsibilities:
- Enforcement: conduct field patrols to detect and investigate fish and game law violations; check licenses and bag limits of sportsmen in the field; issue citations and make arrests; operate short-term check stations; monitor license-vending activities; assist other law enforcement agencies when requested; testify in court regarding offenses; act as a relief officer for other patrol districts. Conservation Officers are required to be proficient with department issued firearms, meeting POST qualifications annually with a rifle and biannually with a handgun. Officers are required to pass the POST physical fitness requirement biannually. Works a varied schedule which may include patrolling on weekends, nights, and holidays.
- Fish and game management: collect biological data for wildlife studies; trap, tag, and transplant animals, birds, and fish; conduct wildlife feeding programs; evaluate habitat for wildlife; investigate, resolve, and make reports on wildlife depredation complaints; dispose of deceased, dead, or injured animals.
- Information and education: participate in wildlife education and youth mentoring projects; conduct hunter safety programs; assist in search and rescue operations; write news articles; participate in news programs; attend meetings and conferences regarding fish and game practices and problems.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Good knowledge of fish and wildlife management practices including habitat and forage requirements, behavior and identification of various wildlife species, and wildlife population dynamics.
- Experience: interpreting and applying biological data; writing technical reports on fish and wildlife issues; making oral presentations.
- Willingness to participate and to instruct in hunting and fishing activities.
- Must be able to meet the entrance requirements for the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy. For more information about the Idaho POST entrance requirements, please see the information in the following link - https://adminrules.idaho.gov/rules/current/11/111101.pdf (Download PDF reader).
How to Apply:
Please apply online at the URL listed below.
URL:
Supplemental Questions:
Enter your responses to the supplemental questions in the space provided. You must have the minimum level of experience or education described for each question to qualify for this position. Scoring will be based on the information you provide. A higher rating may be obtained based on the extent of your education and experience, so take your time to provide a detailed and complete answer to each question. It is very important that the information you provide in your responses is specific and clearly supports the supplemental questions asked.
Tentative Time Frames:
- Initial Video Interviews (November 2021)
- In-Person Interviews (mid to late - December 2021)
- Background Checks/Screening (these will begin immediately after the in-person interviews conclude through February 2022)
- Conditional offers of hire and invitations to psychological, medical, physical, polygraph exams sent out mid-January 2022. Please note that the exams will be conducted in February 2022.
- Hire Date (mid-March 2022)
- POST Academy (May 2022)
Additional Comments:
EEO/Veteran's Preference.
Thank you for applying with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game!